Custom Kraft Paper Mailers for Clothing, Books and Flat Items

What are kraft paper mailers?

A kraft paper mailer is a postal bag made from tough, unbleached or white kraft paper. The back is folded and glued into a pocket, and a flap at the top closes over the opening.

A strip of adhesive sits under a release liner on the flap. Peel the liner off, fold the flap down and press, and the bag is sealed.

Unlike a box, a paper mailer has no rigid walls. It moulds around the product, so it suits things that can flex without harm.

How do I choose the right mailer size?

Paper mailers are sized flat, as width by length. The usable space shrinks once something thick goes inside, because the bag has to wrap around it.

A good rule is to add the item's thickness to both the width and the length, plus about 20 mm. Bulky or springy items need a little more, as they push back against the paper. A folded T-shirt 20 mm thick at 220 × 300 mm would need roughly 260 × 340 mm.

For chunky items, a side gusset lets the bag open out. Our guide on measuring for packaging walks through taking sizes from the product.

Brown or white kraft paper?

Brown kraft has a natural, matt look and suits simple one or two colour logos. Dark inks such as black, navy and forest green read clearly on it.

White kraft gives a cleaner base for full colour designs. Bright pinks, blues and photographic patterns come out truer than on brown paper.

Both are strong papers, made to resist tearing in the post. White shows grubby handling marks a little more, while brown hides them. If your products are sharp-edged or fragile, a padded or boxed option will protect them better.

What can be printed on a paper mailer?

Bags can stay plain, or carry print in a single ink, two inks or full colour CMYK. Many brands print a large logo on the front and a short message on the back.

The inside of the flap is a good spot for a pattern or a thank-you line. It is only seen once the bag is opened, which adds a small surprise.

Leave a clear panel on the front for the address label. Keep text away from the glued seams, where it can be hidden or creased.

Most paper mailers are left as uncoated kraft so the paper feel stays. For a fully branded parcel, pair the mailer with custom printed packing tape on any boxed orders.

What do people get wrong with paper mailers?

Ordering bags that are too tight is the biggest one. A bag stretched over a thick jumper can split at the seams in a sorting machine.

The next is using a paper mailer for something fragile. Mugs, glass and electronics need a box with padding, not a paper bag.

Some people place the address label over the flap. If the label straddles the seal, it can tear when the parcel is opened. Keep it on the flat front panel instead.

Is a paper mailer lighter to post than a box?

Yes, in most cases. A flat bag weighs less than a carton and often fits a smaller size band.

That makes paper mailers a good fit for low-value, light orders where postage is a large share of the cost. How size and weight shape the price is covered in our guide to lower parcel postage.

Can customers reuse a kraft paper mailer for returns?

Yes, once the flap carries a spare glue line. Your customer rips the bag open along a tear strip, then uses that spare line to close it for the trip back.

This adds a little to the unit price but saves your customers hunting for packaging. Clothing sellers with high return rates often find it worth doing.

Mention it when you ask for a price, and it will be included in the figure you receive.

Kraft paper mailer or plastic mailing bag?

Both carry soft goods well. Most sellers decide on feel, looks and what their own customers have asked for in reviews or emails.

Paper has a dry, natural texture and takes ink with a matt look. Plastic bags are slippery, shiny and often see-through when held to the light, which matters for privacy.

Paper mailers are less forgiving of wet weather, so a parcel left on a doorstep in heavy rain may mark. For most UK deliveries that is a small risk, but it is worth knowing.

If waterproofing is the main concern and you still want a greener feel, look at our compostable film mailing bags as well.

How do I order kraft paper mailers?

Tell us the flat size, paper colour, print, any extras such as a returns strip, and the quantity. Design Your Box can help you picture the artwork on the bag.

Paper mailers like these cost from £0.25 per unit, and the final price is always put in writing first. Our designers set out your artwork at no charge, and printing waits until you have signed off a digital proof.

With artwork signed off, the print run needs 4–6 business days. They travel to you on a tracked service in 2–3 business days, at no cost for delivery anywhere in the UK.

If any bags turn up misprinted, torn or faulty, email photos within 10 days. You get a reprint or your money back for those bags.